WATCH: YouTube Go launches in SA, save on your data bill

YouTube has been built for the next generation of YouTube users considering their needs, preferences and aspirations so that they have complete access to the world of video.

Every feature of the app has been designed with the user at the forefront. It features a simple user interface which allows people to conveniently access their favourite video and it has been built with an offline feature so that it can be used even when there is little or no connectivity.

It also offers transparency in how users are using their data which allows them to cut down on their data consumption as well as a social experience that links users with the people and content that they care about.

Mzamo Masito the chief marketing officer of Google Africa said: "With YouTube Go, we want to make it possible for everyone in South Africa to be able to discover and share videos that they love regardless of their data consumption preference."

He added that they understand the unique challenges like connectivity cost and social models that South Africans and users in emerging economies face.

"YouTube Go was created on the back on our understanding of these issues," said Masito.

With YouTube Go users are given a home screen that will display trending and popular videos nearby so that they can see the latest content that other YouTube users are seeing and sharing.

A preview video feature makes it easier for users to decide on what video they would like to watch.

Users can also save videos for offline watching and select what resolution video to save, either low quality or standard quality, giving them more control over how they use their data.

Sharing videos is much easier with YouTubeGo. A user can wirelessly transfer videos to nearby devices without using data.

"People in South Africa love YouTube but the current app is too data-heavy for it to be usable to most viewers, who don’t have high speed and large capacity data plans, or free Wifi," said Masito.